You’d never know it, but this was made with a recycled oak wine barrel head. The elegant little ceramic bowls sit in grooves atop it for the six traditional, symbolic foods to retell the Passover story. Even if you don’t celebrate Passover, this would be a beautiful serving dish. But if you do, what a lovely centerpiece this would be. I may even be more excited about this plate than brisket and flourless chocolate cake. (Okay, not really, but it’s close.)

I’m cheating a little on this one, since I only featured two actual maids (the plate and the pixel wall art of Vermeer’s “The Milkmaid”), but hey, you try finding some attractive milkmaid products! It’s a little ironic that I’m showcasing milk-centric items, considering I’m deathly allergic to milk in real life, but I suffer for my art. At least I am not allergic to those playful milking stools, thank goodness.

Swans are iconic in mythology and even on film, from Black Swan to Bella Swan — and who could forget this Billy Madison shout-out? In many cases, they’re both beautiful and tragic (see also: Bjork’s infamous red-carpet swan song), but these design picks only emphasize their grace. I almost went with the classic Swan Chair, but because I wanted a nod to the “a-swimming” in the lyric, I included a swan-shaped pedal boat instead. I may be just an Ugly Duckling without $2,754 and a private lake to tool around on, but far be it from me to deny you, dear readers. ;-P

I read that the five golden rings lyric actually refers to birds again (like ring-necked pheasants), but we’ve already covered birds exhaustively I feel, so let’s move on, shall we? I’ve gathered a little assortment of ringed wonders here that are sure to be more well-received than any feathered creature, and while I’m not-so-secretly hoping for a golden ring that I can wear on my finger from my true love soon, I’d also take the gorgeous trivet in the top left corner. Which “ring” is your favorite? Tell me in the comments!

On the fourth day of Christmas Daily Delights, I give to thee…FOUR CALLING BIRDS! (Also: THREE FRENCH HENS, TWO TURTLE DOVES AND A PARTRIDGE IN A PEAR TREEEE!) Birds, birds and more birds! I don’t think I ever noticed how obsessed this song is with all things avian. Was that some kind of fad back in the day? I mean, didn’t they have any jewelry then? Forget a pear tree! How about a pear-cut diamond? But, I digress.

Photo: Kana Okada/Country Living

There’s some head-scratching over this lyric, because some people sing “four calling birds” though it’s believed that it’s a “phonetic misunderstanding” of the phrase “four colly birds” — colly birds being a term for blackbirds in old-timey England. You learn something new every day on this blog, I tell ya. So, I think four of these pie birds would be a perfect gift on all fronts. They’re adorable, affordable, reference another rhyme (“four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie”) and with their mouths open, they even look like they’re “calling” if you prefer that interpretation. That’s actually a practical feature for fruit pies with pastry tops; the mouths act like a steam vent so that the pie juices don’t boil over. The birds featured in this Country Living snap are vintage, but you can pretty up your pie with a modern option, like this bird from Amazon.com.

I’m terrible about sending Christmas cards, and it turns out I’m not much better at receiving them. I get these beautiful cards — mini works of art, really — and have no place to display them. Oh, there’s the fridge, of course, but anything less than my DREAM FRIDGE just seems too everyday for the good tidings. Fortunately, I stumbled upon this clever solution from Jen of Tatertots & Jello.

Jen made her own ladder and painted it blue to match her decor. She then dressed it with twine and clothespins, and ta-da! Now she can show off those Christmas cards in style. What’s more, Jen points out that the ladder can also be used to string up an advent calendar, or you could even use it to put up some stockings (especially handy for those of us without fireplaces). Check out her tutorial for all the steps. You may have to take down your Christmas tree after the holidays, but this is one attractive craft you can leave up year-round.

We’re so excited to announce that we’ve partnered up for the holidays again this year with our friends at Etsy. (Remember last year’s amazing Christmas crafts?) This year, we’re featuring Etsy on an upcoming episode of Design on a Dime, airing Saturday, Dec. 10 at 8p/7c.

We’re all big fans of their Treasury. The Treasury allows you to create a collection of your favorite Etsy items and share it with your friends.

The part of the holiday season that fills me with the most anxiety and self-loathing is not visiting family, no. It’s wrapping presents. Things start out okay, but then somehow my corners are all crumpled, there are visible seams because I used a sheet of wrapping paper that was too small, and there are strands of my hair (eww, I know) stuck to every piece of Scotch tape. I give up and start buying lots of gift bags and tissue paper. THE END. This year I’ve got a new plan: Make beautiful fabric poppies like the ones I found on Creature Comforts and plant them atop every present to hide my wrapping flaws.

They take about five minutes to make, and look how they glow against that simple brown paper! Plus, there are so many more holiday uses for them. You can attach them to pins or glue them to headbands for festive party accessories, you can use them on your table as decorative placeholders, or even make garland or ornaments with them. If you’re looking for even more ways to jazz up your presents, check out some of our ideas here. Cut! That’s a wrap.

We haven’t gotten snow here since Halloween (it still feels wrong saying that), and even though snow can be a pain, I always enjoy the first good one of the season. Good snow to me equals: A quick trip to Central Park to stroll around and watch kids go sledding, a mug of hot chocolate with marshmallows, snuggling on the couch for a festive movie or two. Oh, and icicles!

I love when these crystalline beauties reflect light outside my window. These hand-sliced Selenite Icicle Ornaments remind me of the first snow, slowly melting into silvery spikes. These would be gorgeous on a Christmas tree, but I like them as shown here, on a branch, perhaps planted in a jar. Plus, there’s no danger of these icicles snapping off from the tree and falling and injuring you, which is always a qualification of good design in my book. That’s nice ice, baby.

I know, you’re probably thinking, Pinecones? The last time I crafted with a pinecone was in grade school. Are you going to tell me to smear peanut butter on them, dip them in birdseed and hang them from a tree? No, smart alecks, I’m not going to tell you to do that. How about you spray paint them neon colors and arrange them beautifully in a glass jar instead? How cute would these be next to this playful Tobi Fairley Christmas tree?

I spotted these neon delights on Under the Sycamore in a guest post by Julie of Joy’s Hope, but it turns out that our own Sarah Richardson has a video tutorial for similarly-bold pinecones right here! Sarah’s using a dip-and-shake method in lieu of spray paint, but both techniques are easy enough for the whole family to try. (With supervision, of course. Maybe in the garage, where the paint won’t end up on the couch, curtains and family dog.) Why not make it a post-Thanksgiving activity? And as Sarah points out in the video, the pinecones would also make adorable placecard holders for your next holiday meal.

After all, a snowflake is merely wintery, and can go up anytime it starts to either snow or get chilly. (So, in this year’s case, right around Halloween, oy.) It can also stay up long after the tree comes down. Another big selling point for me is that it looks festive and delicate whether it’s turned off or illuminated, so it’s almost like getting two decorations for the price of one! Plus, it would be a perfect pairing with our DIY snowflake curtains. I think I’ll be letting it snow in our place from now until at least February.

Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Are you hosting dinner this year? We are! My husband is in charge of the turkey, I’m in charge of desserts (as always) and our family members are bringing the rest. In our feature, Sunflower Thanksgiving Dessert Buffet, I shared several ideas for delicious desserts. I’m definitely going beyond pumpkin pie this year and serving up a variety of mini sweets.

Cake pops are such a popular trend at parties and gatherings these days. Order or make them in flavors and colors that coordinate with your Thanksgiving decor. These mini pumpkin mousse parfaits were so delicious and really easy to make. I simply adapted the recipe for the mini parfait glasses.

How are you celebrating the 4th of July this year? If you’re attending a party or gathering, I suggest you volunteer now to bring dessert. I’ve collected seven easy, festive and delicious recipes. Plus, with the patriotic cupcake wrappers and party toppers I designed exclusively for HGTV readers, you’ll be sure to impress the host and other guests!

While I always welcome the new year with a small gathering of my closest friends and family, I can’t help feeling I’m part of a giant cosmic party celebrating with billions of people all over the world. Whether you’re hosting a New Year’s party for four or 40, check out our favorite decorating ideas for ringing in 2011…with a bang.

The one thing I hate to see go after the holidays is the Christmas ads and commercials. From the comical to the melancholy, it’s fun to see everyday products holidayized (my new word). I especially love looking at ads from 1950s and 60s – check out some of these posted on MomGrind.com.

In the spirit of the day, I thought I’d honor some of those hardworking holiday decorators over at Rate My Space. Below are a few of my favorite shots to get you in the mood. Be sure to head over there in a spare moment (if you can grab one) to browse, share and vote for more.

Nonaterry transformed her living room into a vision of sparkling white – all from the odds and ends she “shopped” from her basement and attic (who says you need to buy new stuff every year?). The battery-powered LED lights give the mantel and glass coffee table a modern glow to bounce off the classic glitz.

A few oversized glass vases, brimming over with sparkly Christmas balls, make a simple but dramatic statement on Jefferylkemp‘s coffee table display.

We all know red and green, but red, white and black? In this case it works. Tamgypsy based her tablescape around Frosty’s top hat and picked up inexpensive dishware or used what she already had. The peppermint swirl placemats add nice texture.

Did you go classic or get creative this year? Go add your photos to Rate My Space and tell us about them below.

Now that we’ve stuffed our bellies with turkey and the fridge with leftovers, time to focus on gift-giving season. Rather than trekking from mall to mall this Black Friday, do your shopping online — it’ll save you time, stress and energy (both yours and your car’s).

To inspire you, here are a few basic eco- and budget-friendly gifts that are perfect for friends, party hosts or even the office Secret Santa:

Recycled Bottle Platter, $18
Wine and cheese lovers will swoon for these platters, made from 100 percent recycled glass bottles. Whether sporting a selection of organic cheese and crackers or sliced fruits and vegetables, they’re perfect for a dinner party — perhaps even a holiday party if you ask the hostess to open her gift early. Add tea lights to them to dress up a sideboard or give some spoons a rest in the kitchen. Choose from cobalt blue or green; spreader included.

Eggplant Basil Planter, $12
Give the gift of fresh herbs this winter with this cheeky planter. Great dressing for a kitchen windowsill or a sunny desktop, the unglazed ceramic egg is filled with black sand soil and basil seeds. To start growing: gently tap with a spoon to crack open the egg, water the soil-and-seed mixture, and place it in the sun.

Bike Chain Bottle Opener, $10
Each month Graham Bergh and his team of crafty Oregon artisans collect 3,000 pounds of used bike parts from shops around the country. Bits that still might work go to a local non-profit group that teaches kids bicycle repair and maintenance, but the ones that are beyond repair turn into cool things such as this bike chain bottle opener — a quirky addition to any avid cyclist’s dry bar.

Artisans in Benin (that’s in Western African) pluck plastic bags from the waste stream and hand-crochet them into these vibrant, circular placemats. Top one with a bamboo bowl (also under $20) filled with organic apples — voila, a cheerful eco-tabletopper!

One clever eBay seller is transforming old soda cans — Coke, Sprite and Pepsi specifically — into small aluminum ornaments. They are perfect hostess gifts, stocking stuffers or small tokens for any soda-loving friends, but if your giftee prefers a more sedate tree, consider these simple bamboo ornaments ($10 for a set of four) instead.

I love entertaining. And with the holidays right around the corner, it’s a great excuse to spruce up my home and make it inviting for guests without a major overhaul. I was flipping through Parenting Magazine of all places,(this is what happens when you have a 14 month old!), and was inspired by an article that tells how to get your home ready with just a few easy additions.

PILLOWS

Pillows with accents of cool blues, greens and silvers offer great versatility for holiday entertaining and year-round use without overpowering your existing decor.

This one from West Elm adds a unique print and vibrant color to any sofa or chair.

Pull out your existing tableware and mix with new pieces. I use these fleur-de-lis glasses from Anthropologie instead of traditional wine glasses. They come in several colors and are a great way to add a European-inspired touch to any cocktail party.

Roost also makes these beautiful Amelie Luster Glasses that come in a set of six, which you can pick up at Velocity.

Add a great punch of color to your dining or coffee table with these Indian-inspired Simrin Surya cotton napkins, also from Velocity.

BATHROOM

An easy way to revive your bathroom for holiday entertaining is by swapping out the shower curtain, bath mat and towels. This Himmeli print from Crate and Barrel is inexpensive and freshens up the space without a lot of fuss.

And last but not least, adding candles and fresh flowers always makes any home feel festive!

Just a few easy ideas that prove you don’t have to sacrifice your current decor or wallet for the holidays to make your home an inviting and stylish space.